However, things did not go as planned. Relations between Santoshi and the actress soured, and rumours began circulating that Kulkarni was dropped from the movie, and reinstated only after gangster Chhota Rajan intervened on her behalf.[3] When the movie was finally released, it was also a huge flop. Furthermore, the only song in the movie, the item numberChamma Chamma, was picturised on Urmila Matondkar, even though Kulkarni had built her reputation with such numbers. To add insult to injury, the song turned out to be a chartbuster, greatly increased Urmila's popularity and was even used in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!.

Angered at the turn of events, Kulkarni lashed out at Santoshi, accusing him of cutting her screen time because she had refused his advances.[4] Santoshi denied all rumours related to the movie, and the matter was given a quiet burial. However, this proved to be the death blow to Kulkarni's career. She only appeared in a handful of movies after that, and new offers dried up. She quit movies after her the 2002 film Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum. Mamta also did few movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam.[5]